Fireworks

Mainly understated mix of drama and crime in which the narrative may occasionally not flow perfectly smoothly but never confuses and generally remains nicely centred.

The tale may be a relatively simple one and at times a little unrealistic (for instance the Yakuza would surely never be so tolerant in reality) but the way in which it is told is quite magnetic, with some deft writing, acting and direction enhanced by a quite beautiful score.

For me though, the heart of its success is the way in which Nishi's emotions (his love for his wife, his regrets over the fate of his former colleagues) are portrayed, imo they are quite palpable but never, ever overplayed. In my view this is a film which very much proves less can quite easily result in more when done well, as evidenced at times by the paucity of dialogue. The relationship between Nishi and his wife that comes to the fore in the second half is such a wonderfully heartfelt and relatable piece of cinema.

Hana-bi is a quietly contemplative film at it's core that uses sporadic bursts of violence and moments of playfulness to keep it from becoming too dark or bleak and I'm quite happy awarding it a +